Genealogical Research
The City of St. John's Archives does not hold records relating to births, marriages or deaths.
- For records created prior to 1892 researchers are encouraged to consult The Rooms Provincial Archives which also holds some post 1892 records.
- For birth, marriage and death records created after 1892, please contact the Provincial Department of Vital Statistics.
City Genealogical Resources
Although the City of St. John's Archives does not collect genealogical records, families with historical ties to St. John's may find the following sources helpful in filling gaps in their research:
- City Directories, 1877-2000, with gaps in the early years
- Assessment rolls, 1891-current
- Insurance Plans, 1880-1963, with gaps
- Deeds, 1830-1980s
- St. John's maps, from the 1830s
- Voters List: 1937, 1941, 1969, restricted public access post 1975
- St. John's Rotary Club biographies, 1921-current
- City payroll records, 1904-1910
Learn more about how to access these records on our Archival Holdings and Publications page.
These records may assist in determining where your family lived, the length of residence, and whether the property was owned. In addition, a range of secondary sources may provide biographical and historical context about the neighbourhood or street in which your family resided.
The City Archives also house an extensive photograph collection dating from 1860s, which may include images of your family's street and/or residence.
Other genealogical resources:
- Newfoundland Grand Banks
- Library and Archives Canada
- Newfoundland and Labrador Gen Web
- Newfoundland Olive Tree
- Roots Web
- My Trees.com
- Family Search
- Federation of Newfoundland Indians
Other Useful Links
For a comprehensive list of archives in Newfoundland and Labrador that may be useful in your research, please visit the Association of Newfoundland and Labrador Archives website. The following resources may also be useful:
- Dictionary of Newfoundland English
- Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador
- The Department of Education has school transcripts
- The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador keeps adoption records
Stay in Touch
Sign up to receive information from the City of St. John's directly to your inbox. Check out the various categories of general news, and emergency notifications.
